A few weeks later, an emergency alert told everyone in Trible Library to evacuate the building, prompting students and staff to stream out of the exits.

Both events were drills as part of CNU's effort to ramp up testing of its emergency notification system this year, officials say.

The tests notifications — which send out text messages, trigger a siren that can be heard up to a mile away, and blare announcements from speakers — are being paired with drills to help those on campus learn what to do in a real emergency such as a bomb threat, shooting or chemical attack.

The university has already tested the system and conducted drills three times this year. It plans to do so at least once a month through the end of the school year. Last year, there were only six notification tests and no drills, officials said.

Efforts are being led by Austen Givens, who was hired this summer for the newly created "director of emergency management" position. Givens is Warwick High graduate who earned a master's degree in homeland security from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009.

So far, drills have included the Oct. 5 lockdown at McMurran Hall, an Oct. 21 evacuation of Trible Library, and most recently, Tuesday's evacuation of Freeman Center.

Student Justin Reidelbach, a marketing junior, said he's glad official are raising awareness of how seriously alerts should be taken. He said his teacher seemed really flippant about following protocol when campus went on lockdown Sept. 2 in response to a robbery at a bank across the street.

"Our teacher took it as a joke, he just put a chair in front of the door and kept teaching," Reidelbach said. "Some students were really freaked out. He obviously wasn't aware of proper rules and procedures such as turning off lights and shutting the blinds."

The text alert that day instructed recipients on exactly what to do in terms of barricading doors and shutting off lights. Reidelbach said that before that incident, he wasn't completely aware of how he should respond to a lockdown alert.

"Compared to my sophomore and junior years, the tests have been a lot more persistent," he said. "I think it's good that they're taking initiative and realizing people aren't as prepared as they should be."

Lori Underwood, chairwoman of the philosophy and religious studies department in McMurran Hall, said student have told her they have a better sense of security because of increased drills.

"In the years after Virginia Tech, there's sometimes a little bit of latent anxiety," Underwood said. "Just knowing there's a plan and everyone around you knows what to do helps minimize that worry in your mind."